Two Denver Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

DENVER—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Carlos Sanford-Valdez, a.k.a. “Charlie Vuitton,” age 30, was sentenced to 240 months and five years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Co-defendant Kataina Jackson-Keeling, a.k.a. “Tana Ten Birdz,” age 37, was sentenced to 120 months for his role in the conspiracy.

According to the defendants’ plea agreements, from May 2022 to April 2023, Mr. Sanford-Valdez and Mr. Jackson-Keeling—Crip gang members who were also part of a criminal network that called themselves the “Bird Gang”—and others sold large amounts of fentanyl and cocaine in the Denver Metro area. The defendants separately traveled to Arizona to obtain fentanyl pills, which they then transported or attempted to transport back to Colorado for distribution. They operated out of multiple locations across the Denver Metro area, where they stored and distributed the narcotics as part of their drug trafficking operation.

According to Sanford-Valdez’s plea agreement, Sanford-Valdez flew to Arizona on July 30, 2022, to obtain fentanyl pills, which he provided to an associate for transport back to Colorado. The associate was stopped by law enforcement en route to Colorado, and authorities seized approximately 60,000 fentanyl pills. The associate was later indicted along with Sanford-Valdez.

On August 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a vehicle driven by Sanford-Valdez and another associate who was later indicted with Sanford-Valdez. During the search, officers recovered a 9mm handgun, 15 rounds of ammunition, $2,494 in cash, and more than 10,000 fentanyl pills. Further, on October 11, 2022, Sanford-Valdez was stopped in Arizona for erratic driving but fled the scene. Following a brief pursuit, law enforcement searched the vehicle he was driving and recovered three cell phones, $37,670 in cash, a firearm, and marijuana.

According to Jackson-Keeling’s plea agreement, on November 14, 2022, Jackson-Keeling mailed a package from Arizona to Colorado. The package was intercepted and searched by law enforcement. Inside, officers found several children’s toys and ten individually wrapped bundles containing a total of 10,102 fentanyl pills.

Investigators also identified an automotive shop in Denver as a distribution location for the criminal network. On November 17, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the shop and recovered approximately 706 grams of fentanyl pills and 60 grams of fentanyl powder. That same day, law enforcement officers also search a location frequented by Sanford-Valdez and found 50 grams of cocaine.

According to court documents, Sanford-Valdez has several prior felony convictions which involved drugs and firearms. Jackson-Keeling was previously sentenced to 10 years in prison for an aggravated robbery in which he threatened a victim at gun point. Jackson-Keeling had a semi-automatic handgun in his possession when he was arrested in Texas on the indictment in this case.

“This case is a perfect example of how organized criminal networks, like the so-called ‘Bird Gang,’ are fueling the fentanyl crisis in our communities,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “These defendants trafficked tens of thousands of fentanyl pills into the Denver Metro area. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, we were able to disrupt their operation, prevent deadly substances from reaching our streets, and prosecute the people who were most responsible.”

“This investigation demonstrates the resolve of DEA and our partners, by stopping the Bird Gang and its members from spreading poisonous fentanyl and committing acts of violence in our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen. “We’ll continue to investigate, prosecute, and destroy these criminal networks with all we have.”

“The Denver Police Department greatly appreciates our partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies where together, we work to ensure those trying to distribute dangerous narcotics are held accountable,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. “This investigation, arrest, conviction and sentencing demonstrate our collective commitment to stopping the distribution of deadly drugs in our community and should serve as a warning to anyone who is or considering bringing illegal drugs into our city.”

United States District Judge Charlotte Sweeney presided over the sentencing. Agents and task force officers assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration task force which includes the Denver Police Department and the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Duncan handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 1:23-cr-00092-CNS and 1:23-cr-00092-CNS-2